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Background  In recent years, several avian influenza subtypes (H5, H7 and H9) have transmitted directly from birds to man, posing a pandemic threat. Objectives  We have investigated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a cell based candidate pandemic influenza H7 vaccine in pre‐clinical animal models. Methods  Mice and ferrets were immunised with two doses of the split virus vaccine (12–24 μg haemagglutinin) with or without aluminium hydroxide adjuvant and challenged 3 weeks after second dose with the highly pathogenic A/chicken/Italy/13474/99 (H7N1) virus. The H7N1‐specific serum antibody response was also measured. After challenge, viral shedding, weight loss, disease signs and death (only mice) were recorded. Results  Low‐to‐modest serum antibody titres were detected after vaccination. Nevertheless, the vaccine induced significant protection from disease after challenge with the wild‐type virus. In the murine lethal challenge model, vaccination effectively prevented death and, furthermore, formulation with adjuvant reduced excessive weight loss and viral shedding. In ferrets, vaccination reduced viral shedding and protected against systemic spread of the virus. Conclusions  We have extended to the H7 subtype the finding that protective efficacy may not be directly correlated with the pre‐challenge levels of serum antibodies, a finding which could be of great importance in assessing the potential effectiveness of pandemic influenza vaccines.

An outbreak of avian infl uenza (H7N3) among poultry resulted in laboratory-confi rmed disease in 1 of 103 exposed persons. Incomplete use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was associated with conjunctivitis and infl uenza-like symptoms. Rigorous use of PPE by persons managing avian infl uenza outbreaks may reduce exposure to potentially hazardous infected poultry materials. In April 2006, an outbreak of avian influenza occurred on 3 poultry farms in Norfolk, England (1). Reverse transcription–PCR (RT-PCR) of poultry blood samples and cloacal swabs detected low-pathogenic avian influenza (H7N3) on 1 farm, and veterinary investigation confirmed influenza subtype H7N3 on the 2 adjacent farms. Surveillance and protection zones were established around all infected premises, and all birds were culled. Persons who had been exposed were offered oseltamivir prophylaxis; those with influenza symptoms were offered oseltamivir treatment and influenza vaccination. All persons at risk were orally instructed to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). DOI: 10.3201/eid1501.07066

Background and Objectives To evaluate standard intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) as an alternative to intravenous cytomegalovirus hyperimmune immunoglobulin (CMVIG) for prophylaxis and therapy of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, we measured the ELISA and neutralizing titres of CMV-specific antibodies in CMVIG and IVIG preparations. Results Cytomegalovirus hyperimmune immunoglobulins contained more than fourfold higher CMV ELISA and CMV-neutralizing activity per gram of IgG than the standard IVIGs. Pooled data for all four products showed a significant correlation between anti-CMV-IgG ELISA and neutralizing titres (r = 0Á93, P < 0Á001). There was a good correlation between the IgG3 content and CMV-neutralizing antibodies amongst lots of CMVIGs (r = 0Á91, P = 0Á01), but this did not extend to the IVIGs. CMVIG CG contained the highest CMV-neutralizing activity (3497 -395 PEIU/g IgG) of any product tested. ConclusionThe higher anti-CMV neutralization capacity of CMVIG per gram of IgG vs. standard IVIG suggests that standard IVIGs are not equivalent to or interchangeable with CMVIG.